Specialist: Big Data & Analytics - Transnet

Position Purpose:

• The role supports the design, implementation and maintenance of data flow channels and data processing systems that support the collection, storage, batch and real-time processing, and analysis of information in a scalable, repeatable and secure manner. It defines optimal solutions to data collection, processing and warehousing.

• It designs, codes and tests data systems and works on implementing those into the internal infrastructure. Role collects, parses, and manages data, analyses and visualises large sets of data to turn information into insights accessible through multiple platforms.

Position outputs:

Identify business needs by:

• Working with stakeholders to understand needs for data structure, availability and accessibility
• Collaborating with Senior Specialists and peers to translate corporate/functional business and information objectives into technical system requirements and Data Warehouse analytical solutions and visualisations to inform business decision-making

• Advising on the latest technologies, strategies, and products in database and data processing software

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Participating in the building of data processing systems by:

• Supporting the building of data flow channels and processing systems to extract, transform, load and integrate data from various sources

• Developing complex code, scripts and data pipelines to process structured and unstructured data near real-time
• Developing prototypes and proof of concepts for the selected solutions
• Supporting the identification of internal and external data sources
• Conducting research on hardware and software needs to support selected solutions

Optimise solution performance through:

• The ingestion, transformation and visualisation of data of all forms i.e. unstructured, semi-structure and structured
• Assisting with the integration of data systems with existing infrastructure
• Developing tools to improve data flows between internal and/or external systems and the data warehouse
• Automating the data collection and analysis processes, data releasing and reporting tools
• Testing data system configurations to increase efficiency
• Facilitating data cleansing, enrichment and data quality improvements
• Enabling searching, data visualisation, and advanced analytics functionality

Participate in the maintenance of data processing solutions by:

• Monitoring data system performance
• Supporting the handling and logging of errors

Live and participate in building a Dev-Ops Culture by:

• Facilitating the principle of Flow: i.e. make work visible, limit work in progress, reduce batch (deployment) sizes, reduction in the number of handoffs, identify and elevate constraints, and eliminate hardships and waste in the value stream.
• Facilitating the principle of Feedback: i.e. working safely within complex systems, seeing problems as they occur, swarm and resolve problems to build new knowledge, push quality closer to the source, and enable optimizing for downstream work centers.
• Facilitating the principle of continual learning and experimentation: i.e. enabling organizational learning and safety culture, institutionalize the improvement of daily work, transforming local discoveries into global improvements, inject resilience patterns into daily work, and reinforce a learning culture.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in IT or Computer Science
• Certifications(advantageous if the incumbent has at least one of the following certifications):
• Business Intelligence/Analytics certification
• Big Data/ Big Data Analytics certification
• DMBoK
• ITIL Foundation or ITIL Service Management

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Experience:

• 5 Years’ working experience in at least one IT discipline (such as Data Warehouse development/Business Intelligence development/Business or Information Analytics/Application Development or Big Data Analytics)

General:

• Valid Driver’s License
• Willing to Travel
• Willing to work extended and after hours in support of project deadlines where needed.

Requirement of Trust and Honesty in the handling of Finances as per the National Credit Act Amendment 19

Standard Job Requirements:

• Driver’s license code 08
• Travel as required and approved

Competencies:

Knowledge:

• Strong SQL knowledge and experience working with relational databases, query authoring (SQL) as well as working familiarity with a variety of databases and experience with performance tuning

• Good understanding of data architecture and database design
• Strong ability to analyse user requirements and build front-end BI applications according to specifications
• Good usage of reporting and analytics platforms and tools such as SAP BW, SAP Business Objects and Microsoft Power BI; data design principles and strategies; database modelling techniques; data warehousing concepts and methodologies; best practice methodologies in data validation; key design elements and considerations of data Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) and Cube design and development processes.

• Knowledge and understanding of business principles and business processes
• Knowledge of Big Data Science Analytics is an advantage
• Good knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and laws such as PoPIA etc.;
• An understanding of Governance and Best Practice Processes relevant to environment i.e. COBIT/ITIL/ISO 20000)

Functional Competencies:

SERVICE CHANGE MANAGEMENT

• Assesses, analyses, develops, documents and implements changes based on requests for change.

SERVICE DESIGN MANAGEMENT

• Contributes to the improvement of service design activities.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY MONITORING

• Supports monitoring of the external environment and assessment of emerging technologies to evaluate the potential impacts, threats and opportunities to the organisation.

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INNOVATION

• Manages the innovation pipeline and executes innovation processes.
• Develops, evolves and adapts innovation tools, processes and infrastructures to drive the process of innovation.
• Identifies resources and capabilities needed to support innovation.
• Encourages and motivates innovation communities, teams and individuals to share creative ideas and learn from failures.

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

• Identifies and classifies incident types and service interruptions.
• Records incidents cataloguing them by symptom and resolution.
• Following agreed procedures, identifies, registers and categorises incidents.
• Gathers information to enable incident resolution and promptly allocates incidents as appropriate.
• Maintains records and advises relevant persons of actions taken.

PROBLEM MANAGEMENT

• Can describe the difference between a Problem and an Incident, and demonstrates the correct use of each term.
• Can articulate the difference between proactive and reactive Problem Management.
• Can describe the most important elements of a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Report.
• Understands what a Known Error is.
• Can give basic examples of the main interfaces with other ITIL processes.
• Can identify situations when the Problem Management process should be triggered.
• Can critically assess the quality of a Root Cause Analysis report and provide relevant feedback.

General Competencies:

CONTINUOUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENT MANAGEMENT

• Implements and contributes to the development of a continuity management plan.
• Coordinates the assessment of risks to the availability, integrity and confidentiality of systems that support critical business

processes.

• Coordinates the planning, designing, and testing of maintenance procedures and contingency plans.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY & DISASTER RECOVERY

• Implements and contributes to the development of a continuity management plan.
• Coordinates the assessment of risks to the availability, integrity and confidentiality of systems that support critical business processes.

• Coordinates the planning, designing, and testing of maintenance procedures and contingency plans.

ICT FRAMEWORKS STANDARDS MANAGEMENT

• Evaluates compliance to IT frameworks and standards.

Behavioural Competencies: (Current Transnet Leadership Competencies)

CULTURE CHAMPION

• Implement elements of desired culture across the organisation, promote and live the organisational values.
• Promote awareness and understanding of the desired culture.

LEADERSHIP AND NAVIGATION

• Demonstrates flexibility, adaptability and initiative.
• Implements plans using results-orientated goals for measuring success.
• Ensures alignment of projects and initiatives to the vision, mission and strategy of the organisation.

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ETHICAL AND MORAL PRACTICE

• Reinforces difficult decisions that align with organisational strategies and values.
• Establishes one's self as a credible resource for all issues involving employees and management.
• Enforces policies consistently.
• Performs as an ethical role model and positively influences managerial integrity and accountability.
• Proficient

CRITICAL EVALUATION

• Maintains knowledge in the use of data, evidence-based research, benchmarks, People Management and business metrics to make critical decisions.

• Ensures quality of work product.
• Maintains objectivity during critical evaluation processes.
• Masters research methods and applies them to work.

BUSINESS ACUMEN

• Maintains functional knowledge of organisational business units.
• Defines critical activities in terms of value added, impact, utility derived from cost-benefit analysis.
• Manages process improvement initiatives.
• Implements organisation-wide business practices/operations.

NB: The candidate must meet the minimum inherent health requirements of the job.